When considering your home’s overall value and potential improvements – don’t forget your garage door. Industry research shows that a garage door replacement or upgrade is a smart investment. An automatic garage door, a custom garage door, and today’s “green” garage doors are excellent ways to boost curb appeal while also increasing home safety and energy efficiency.

Garage Door Upgrades Impact Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is a critical factor of every home. Often, an attached garage takes up nearly fifty percent of a home’s façade, and as such, greatly affects the overall visual impact of the home. Whether you’re considering a move, a refinance, or simply want the nicest looking house on the block, exterior upgrades such as a custom garage door and/or a new automatic garage door have been shown to increase curb appeal and a home’s overall market value. Whether your home is traditional, modern or transitional, there is a garage door available to suit your style and budget. And, by adding custom windows and other garage door accessories, you can personalize your garage door to suit not only your home, but your own personal style.

Increasing Home Safety with an Automatic Garage Door

“Tech-up the garage” is one of REALTOR.com’s top ten “Low Cost High Impact” home improvements for 2009, indicating that upgrading your garage door is a sure hit in the cost vs. value equation. Not only does upgrading to an automatic door with an automatic garage door opener or wireless keypad system assure you a return on your investment, it increases the safety profile of your home for you and your family. Unlike traditional, non-automatic garage doors, all residential automatic garage doors sold in the United States since 1993 are required by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to be outfitted with an external entrapment protection system. This system can be an electric eye, a door edge sensor or any other device that provides protection from any individual or object being trapped beneath a closing garage door, as the door automatically reverses. Along with these numerous safety design features, the wireless keypad systems now available on most doors help to keep your family safe by allowing access to the home even when a family member loses or forgets their keys.

“Green” Garage Door Installation for Increased Energy Efficiency

As the largest moving part on a home, your garage door plays an important role in maintaining its energy efficiency – a critical factor in “green building” and sustainable architectural design. Seasonally, your garage door either helps you keep the heat in or keep the cool in, which means having the right garage door can determine your heating and cooling budget. By upgrading to an energy-efficient, insulated garage door with a life expectancy of nearly twenty years, you are lowering your household’s carbon footprint substantially. If your garage is attached to your home, you will also find that upgrading to an insulated garage door will have such a significant impact that the Internal Revenue Service has declared certain models eligible for an energy savings tax credit under the Energy Tax Incentives Act.

So, as a homeowner, if you are considering making any improvements this year, remember that for increased curb appeal, safety, and adding some “green” to your home and your pocketbook, don’t forget your garage door!

Cathy Wempe of AE Door, a Cincinnati-based residential and commercial garage door retailer. For 30 years, AE Door has been an industry leader in entry and storm doors, commercial garage doors openers and windows.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Why-Upgrade-Your-Home’s-Garage-Door?/1391338

CLEVELAND, OHIO – according to statistics compiled by metropolitan police departments, approximately 50 percent of all residential burglaries occur because a garage door is left open or is outdated and no longer secure.

The garage door industry is reminding homeowners in 2009 to make it a practice to keep their garage doors closed when not in use.

“An open garage door is an open invitation to thieves,” says Chris Long, executive director of the International Door Association. “Thieves are also targeting remote controls that are not locked up in vehicles parked outside.”

Long says many Americans are now upgrading their garage doors to stylish new models that are now available. “Unfortunately, many homeowners are in the dangerous habit of leaving their garage doors open. If you’ve just bought a stylish new garage door, why not show it off and keep it closed?”

Today’s technologies enable new garage doors to provide greater security than the garage doors of yesteryear. Garage doors paired with open-door alert systems, miniature keyring remote controls and numerically coded or fingerprint keypad entry systems keep unwanted visitors out of your home and away from your family’s belongings.

GarageWowNow.com, a non-commercial, home improvement resource sponsored by the garage door industry, provides ways to improve home safety and security. in addition to explaining the advantages of installing today’s new garage door styles, the site also offers insight to the many garage door accessories that can keep a home safe.

OPEN-DOOR ALERT SYSTEMS

How many times have you gone in your house after working in your yard or carrying groceries out of your car and left the garage door open? New garage doors can be equipped with an open garage door monitor that can be affixed to your door system. When a garage door is left open, a warning light will indicate “open door” – a signal for you to close your garage door. Homeowners can sleep easy, knowing their garage doors are closed and their families are safe.

MINIATURE KEYRING REMOTE CONTROLS

Another tool for the security-minded homeowner is a miniature keyring remote control. Think about it. Leaving your garage door remote control opener in your car – whether it’s parked in your driveway or anywhere – is the same as leaving your house keys on your driver’s seat.

Crafty thieves are breaking into vehicles and grabbing the garage door remote and getting your home address from your car’s registration or insurance documents,” adds Long. “They then drive to your home and pull right in your garage.”

Long recommends replacing your visor-clip remote control with a handy miniature keyring remote control. Hooked onto your keychain, these remotes can easily be carried with you at all times.

KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEMS

One of the most popular garage door accessories is a keypad entry system mounted outside your garage door. With these devices, you can open your garage door with a simple swipe of your fingerprint or by entering a 4-digit code.

These tools keep out intruders while providing easy access only to the people who need it. Give your personal code only to family and trusted friends. Fingerprint controls can also be programmed for multiple fingerprints.